FM Pakistan in Tashkent -Discusses Cooperation with Chinese FM – Will Meet Uzbek Counterpart

Tashkent/ Uzbekistan: 28 July 2022 – Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China, Mr. Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) today. The Foreign Ministers reviewed the progress in bilateral relations and discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Referring to his meeting with the Secretary General of the SCO in Islamabad, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the purposes and principles of the SCO and the ‘Shanghai Spirit’. He added that Pakistan and China had complete convergence on fully leveraging SCO as an important regional platform for development and connectivity.

Both sides reaffirmed their strong support for each other’s core interests and major concerns, and commitment to deepening strategic communication including at the highest political level and practical cooperation.

The Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction at the frequent high-level interactions between the two sides which was a hallmark of the bilateral relations. He underscored that his third meeting with State Councilor Wang Yi in as many months reflected the importance attached by both sides to maintain strategic communication, further deepen the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and advance economic engagement for mutual benefit.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari underscored that CPEC’s development had reached a new phase, with increasing emphasis on high-quality development of industry, agriculture, IT, and science and technology, while ensuring tangible socio-economic benefits for the people.

The two sides discussed the latest developments in Afghanistan. The two sides agreed that peace and stability in Afghanistan was vital for regional development and prosperity. Both sides agreed that only a peaceful, stable and connected Afghanistan could act as a fulcrum for enhanced regional trade and connectivity.

The two foreign ministers agreed to maintain close coordination.

Foreign Minister Bilawal is leading the Pakistan delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM) meeting in Tashkent on 28-29 July 2022.

The invitation to attend the SCO-CFM was extended by the Acting Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, H.E. Vladimir Norov. In the CFM meeting, the SCO Foreign Ministers would deliberate upon important regional and international issues as well as approve the decisions and documents to be presented to the Heads of State at the SCO Summit in Samarkand in September 2022.

The Foreign Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with a number of his counterparts from SCO member states on the sidelines. SCO’s major objectives include promoting mutual confidence and good-neighborly relations among member states; strengthening regional peace, security and stability; and creating a framework for effective cooperation in the political sphere, trade and economy, culture, science and technology, education, energy, transportation and connectivity, tourism, and environmental protection.

Pakistan views SCO as an important trans-regional multilateral forum for further enhancement of our deep-rooted historical and cultural links with member states, providing these ties a sound economic foundation, and promoting Pakistan as a regional trade and transit corridor.

Besides Pakistan, SCO member states include China, India, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.